Cover for radiators



H. J. LEBHERZ COVER FOR RADIATORS Sept. 30, 1930.

Filed March 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet i M/IVEb/TOR.

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Sept. 30, 1930. J, LEBHERZ H 1,777,210

COVER FOR RADIATORS Filed March 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY (f 14TTORNE Patented Sept. 30, 1930 HARRY J. LEBHERZ, F FREDERICK, MARYLAND,

ASSIGNOR TO THE EVEREDY COM- PANY, 0F FREDERICK, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND COVER FOR RADIATORS Application filed March 28, 1930. Serial-No. 441,439.

My invention relates broadly to shields for radiators and more particularly to a construction of adjustable radiator shield which may be readily fitted upon radiators of various dimensions.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of shield or protective cover for radiators wherein the cover is sectionalized and adjustable in length to fit radiators of various dimensions.

Another object of my invention is to provide construction of'radiator shield which may be assembled from a plurality of sections resiliently sprung together for forming a shield extending over the top of the radiator and serving to prevent the circulation of dust particles over the radiator for the protection of the surrounding walls and draperies.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sectionalized cover for radiators wherein a multiplicity of separable sections may be assembled for forming a cover extending over the top of the radiator with inturned edge portions slidable with respect to each other for establishing aninterlocked connection and serving as a collector of dust for preventing injury to the walls and draperies in the vicinity of the radiator.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sectionalized construction of radiator cover in which a plurality of cooperatively related resilient sections may be sprung into an interconnecting fit for forming a cover of desired length for shielding the radiator.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of a sectionalized radiator shield as set forth more fully in the 0 specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the radiator shield of my invention taken on line 11 of Fig. 2, the radiator being shown in end elevation with the shield extending across the top thereof; Fig. 2 is a front view of the radiator shield of my invention in position upon a radiator; Fig, 3 is a top plan view of the radiator shield; Fig. 4 is an end shield in position; Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the first operation employed in the assembly of, the several sections of the radiator shield; Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the second operation during the assembly of the sections of the radiator shield; Fig. 9 is a crosssectional view showing the radiator sections in locked position; and Fig. 10 is a modified form showing a cross-sectional view of an end section of the radiator shield secured to the shield by spot welding.

Heretofore in the art radiator shields have been relatively expensive for installation upon steam or hot, water radiators in the home. The advantages of shields for such radiators have been recognized but their general application in the home has been necessarily curtailed by reason of the inherent expense of such shields due to many causes. The many sizes and shapes of radiators have made it relatively diflicult for a manufacturer to supply standard sizes of radiator shields and such shields have had to be custom built. The cutting of the metal in making up the radiator shields to proper dimensions involves the expenditure of considerable time inasmuch as measurements must be taken and the covers made up special for radiators having differing numbers of sections. Manufacturers have heretofore been unable to supply shields adapted for general installation in the home for the number of different lengths of shields which would have to be carried in stock would be so large as to lend confusion to the trade and defeat any possible profit in the manufacture distribution and sale of such shields.

I have devised a radiator shield which may be assembled from a plurality of cooperatively related sections, the number of sections being selected by the customer in accordance with the length of the radiator which he desires to shield. The several sections of the radiator shield of my invention are constructed of thin sheet metal having resilient properties. The sections are so formed on adjacent edges that a cooperative fit may be obtained by the resilient inter-engagement between adjacent sections. I provide parallel extending beads on adjacent sections which fit one into another for locking the adjacent sections together. The end sections differ from the intermediate sections in that provision is made for closing the shield by a laterally extending end web. Such end web may, however, be attached to one of the sectionalized portions of the shield so that the end section of the shield is substantially similar to the intermediate sections of the shield.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 1 designates a radiator of a multiplicity of sections shown more clearly in Fig. 2 at 1, 1", 1, I 1 and 1. The top oi the several sections 1*-1 is provided with the laterally extending shield of my invention which covers the several sections of the radiator. I have designated the shield generally by reference character 2, and in Fig. 1, I have shown a cross-sectional view therethrough on line 1.1 of Fig. 2. Each section of the radiator shield has a horizontally extending portion 3, a curved front edge portion 4, a curved rear portion 5, an angularly disposed skirt portion 6. and a curved end portion 7. For purposes hereinafter pointed out, it should be observed that the end portions 7 are rolled to a less extent than the edge portion 4. Each section is provided with strengthening central ridges 8 and coacting edge heads 9 and 10. The beads 9 and 10 are separated from the intermediate ridge 8 in each section by laterally extending flat portions 11 and 12. The front edge 4 is curved to provide a dust collecting guard for the shield. The rearwardly extending skirt 6 contacts with the wall l t'adjacent the radiator 1 and thereby prevents the upward circulation of dust particles along the wall 14. All of the sections are similarly formed with the exception of the end sections. I have shown one end section in Figs. 4 and 6 wherein the laterally extending end plate 15 is formed integrally with the end section 16. The end section 16 includes the intermediate strengthening ridge and the beads 18 and 19 separated by the laterally extending flat portions 20 and 21. In lieu of the integrally formed end wall, I may employ an end section similar to any of the other intermediate sections such as illustrated in Fig. 10 wherein the and head 10 is engaged by the bead 22 on the laterally extending end plate 23. In this way, the number of stocked parts is reduced inasmuch as the end sections are merely laterally extending plates 23 with a bead 22 formed thereon for resiliently engaging the end head of a section similar to an intermediate section. 'In installing the radiator shield, 21 number of individual sections are selected according to the length of the radiaextending portion 3 substantially into alignment with the horizontally extending portion 3* of the shield. The curved rear portion 5 of one section of the shield is snapped into engagement with the curved rear portion 5 of the adjacent section. Point Y on the curved rear portion 5 is sprung into engagement with the point X on the adjacent rear portion 5 ofthe adjacent section.

Fig. 8 shows the horizontally extending portion 3 of the one section sprung into position adjacent the horizontally extending portion 3 of the adjacent section. The curved rear portion 5 is sprung into the curved rear portion 5. The angularly disposed shirt 6 is now in position as represented in Fig. 8 to be sprung into a position in alignment with the angularly disposed skirt 6. It will be observed in. Fig. 7 that the curved edge it conforms with the curved edge 4-. and these two edges are actually rolled one with respect to the other in the moving of the horizontal portion 3 ofthe shield to a position in alignment with the horizontally extending portion 3 of theshield. The curved edge 1 ex tends to a position where'a diainetrical line may be drawn therethrough extending substantially normal to the surface of the horizontally extending portion 3. This is not true, however, with respect to the construction of the end portion 7 as the end portion 7 must be free to pass the end portion 7.

Therefore, the end portion 7 is curved to allow adjacent sections to be snapped together to form an interlock. A line passing through the center of curvature of the end portion 7 and through the edge of the end portion 7 intersects a line passing through aplanc including the angularly disposed skirt 6 at an angleawhich is always an acute angle toinsure quick snap action in assembling the sections. In other words, the edge 7 or 7 terminates short of a diainetrical line through the radius of curvature which is normal to the plane of the depending skirt 6 or 6. By virtue of the reduction in length of the edges of the end portions 7 and 7, the end portion 7 is free to pass end portion 7 and interlock therewith by a spring action. This results in an alignment of the adjacent sections as illustrated in Fig. 9. The resilient properties of each of the sections allow the sections to'be readily sprung together and to be maintained in proper alignment one with the other. The proper number of sections are sprung together to form a rigid shield for covering the radiator. Thereafter, an end section may be added for each end of the shield as shown in 6, or a laterally extending end plate 23 may be provided for closing the end of the shield where the end plate 23 is sprung by means of the rolled over edge 22 upon the bead 10 in the same manner as has been explained in the assembly of the sections of the shield shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The end 23 may be secured in any desired manner to the end section of the shield such as by spot welding, soldering, or by a screw connection.

By virtue of the sectionalized construction of the shield, the radiator cover may be inexpensively formed as there is no shaping required and a selected number of sections may be purchased and assembled directly upon the radiator, the end sections mounted in place and the shield thus completed. The unit cost of each of the sections of the shield is relatively small as these elements are formed by a die pressing operation and may be manufactured relatively inexpensively on a quantity production basis.

I have found the shield construction of my invention highly practical and as meeting a relatively large need not heretofore supplied in a manner as simple and practical as the shield of my invention.

-While l have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations upon my inven tion are intended other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicity of resilient sections each extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections having interlocking portions adapted to spring into interlocking engagement one within the other for providing a shield adjustable in length by units determined by the width and number of said resilient sections.

2. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicity of resilient plates each extending laterally of the radiator, said plates having interlocking portions terminating in a dust collecting portion at one end and having a rolled edge at the opposite end, with an intermediate curved wall formed to spring one within another for forming a rigid shield extending over the radiator and adjustable in length by units determined by the width and number of said resilient plates.

3. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicity of laterally extending sections projecting horizontally over the top of a radiator, each of said sections having overlapping edge portions, with intermediate resilient portions adapted to interlock with an adjacent section for providing a shield for the top of the radiator.

4:. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicity of narrow sections of sheet metal extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections comprising a horizontally extending portion and an angularly disposed skirt depending therefrom at an obtuse angle, the angularly disposed skirt having inherent resiliency whereby a plurality of said sections may be sprung together to form a shield for the top of the radiator.

5. A shield for radiators'comprising a plurality of sections extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections having a horizontal portion, an angularly disposed skirt extending downwardly therefrom, and beads formed adjacent the edges thereof, said beans being adapted to interlock with each other to form a shield for the radiator.

6. A shield for radiators comprising a plurality of separable sections of sheet metal extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections having a bead formed adjacent the edge thereof with the bead of one section adapted to engage the bead ofan adjacent section to form a shield for the radiator.

7. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicity of separable sections extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections including a horizontally extending portion and an angularly disposed skirt, said sections having beads formed in adjacent edges thereof, the angularly disposed skirt of each section being deformable outof shape for springing the bead in one section into locked engagement with the bead in an adjacent section.

8. A shield for radiators comprising a plurality of separable sections extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections including a horizontally extending portion and an angularly disposed skirt portion, beads formed adjacent the longitudinally extending edges of each of said sections, said sections having a rolled edge at each end thereof and an intermediate outstruck portion whereby said sections may be sprung into a position in which the bead on one section moves into interlocking engagement with the bead on an adjacent section to form a shield for the radiator.

9. A shield for radiators comprising a plurality of separable sections extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections including a substantially horizontally extending portion and an angularly disposed depending skirt portion, the ends of said sections terminating in rolled edges having different lengths of curvature, and an intermediate outstruck portion for imparting a sulficient degree of resiliency to each section to enable said sections to be interlocked at adj acent edges for providing a shield for the radiator.

10. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicity of separable sections extending laterally of the radiator, each of said sections including a horizontally extending portion and an singularly disposed skirt portion, each of said sections terminating in rolled edges and having cooperating beads in the adja- 10 cent portions thereof, and said sections each having an intermediate offset portion for impartin suflicient resiliency thereto to enable the roiled edges and the coacting beads on each of said sections to be sprung into engagement one with another for providing a rigid shield extending over the radiator.

11. A shield for radiators comprising a multiplicit of separable sections extending laterally o the radiator, each of said sections having a horizontally extending portion and a skirt portion disposed at an obtuse angle thereto, a resilient oll'set portion connecting the skirt portion with the horizontally extending portion, said sections terminating in rolled edges at their opposite ends with the rolled edge of the horizontally extending ortion curved to provide a dust trap and eing longer than the rolled edge of the an gularly disposed skirt portion, beads formed inthe adjacent portions of each of said sections, said sections having sufficient resiliency to enable the rolled ends adjacent the horizontally extending portions to be fitted one within another and the sections rotatably shifted to an interlocking fit with the rolled edges on the skirt portions sprung one within another for interengaging the coacting beads in said sections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

4D HARRY J. LEBHERZ. 

